This month’s jewelry joke comes from Nelson Holdo of Asanti Fine Jewellers, who shares the story of a dying woman who has requested a final portrait be painted of her.
MRS. JOHNSON decided to have her own portrait painted by a well-known artist. She told the artist, “Paint me with 2-carat diamond stud earrings, a 5-carat diamond ring with baguettes … glimmering emerald and diamond bracelets, and a beautiful Burmese ruby pendant.”
“But ma’am, you are not wearing any of those things.”
“I know,” said Mrs. Johnson. “My health is not good and my husband is having an affair with his secretary. When I die I’m sure he will marry her, and I want her to go nuts looking for the jewelry.”
ABOUT THE JOKE-TELLER
Nelson Holdo is president and founder of Asanti Fine Jewellers in Pasadena, CA. He is a certified gemologist appraiser through the American Gem Society and an acclaimed expert on colored gems. His specialty at Asanti is working with “the big three” colored stones: emeralds, rubies and sapphires, of which Asanti has a world-class collection — of real stones, not the painted kind, he assures us.
Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
